Mitsubishi MRJ Takes On Honda… In the Sky

If you thought Honda was the only auto-related company developing an airplane, think again!

Most people will probably never get to ride in the HondaJet business jet, but it looks like some air travelers will get to experience the Mitsubishi MRJ very soon. This regional jet has been in the works for over a decade now, and after several delays, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation is expected to start deliveries in 2020.

Since the HondaJet is manufactured in North Carolina, the MRJ will stand as the first airliner to be designed and produced in Japan. Originally, the Mitsubishi MRJ was supposed have an all-composite airframe (pretty much everything except the engines), but the final design will utilize aluminum for the wings instead.

This combination of lightweight materials will give the jet greater efficiency, and it will allow for lower operating costs

So far, most of the orders for these planes have come from SkyWest and Trans States Airlines ? two of the largest airlines that contracted by the major airlines as regional partners.

Compared to the business-oriented HondaJet, which seats up to six passengers, two versions of the MRJ are being developed: the 70-seat MRJ70 and the 90-seat MRJ90.